ABILENE – The Sam Houston State Bearkats split a doubleheader against Abilene Christian on Friday at Poly Wells Field.

Lindsey McLeod (12-9) carried the load with a seven-strikeout complete game in the opener, only allowing four hits to propel the Kats to a 3-1 victory to run the Kats' win streak to six in a row. Annie Bailey would follow that up with a 4.0 innings pitched, allowing six runs on nine hits and no walks with Darby Fitzpatrick entering in relief for the Kats.

Megan Crosby had the game-winning, two-RBI single in the sixth inning in the opener for the Bearkats, while Bailey White crushed a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning in the nightcap game to try to lead them to a late rally.

UP NEXTThe Bearkats will close out the series with the Wildcats on Saturday afternoon with first pitch set for noon from Wells Field.

GAME 1 – Box ScoreSam Houston 3, Abilene Christian 1The Bearkats and Wildcats were tied at 1-1 before Crosby shot the game winning two-RBI single into right field in the top of the sixth inning to take the opener for Sam Houston, 3-1.

The first two innings were a pitching duel between McLeod and Hannah Null which showed only one hit and six strikeouts combined. Sam Houston jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning behind the bat of Codi Carpenter who shot a two-out RBI single to the shortstop after Sheridan Fisher led off with a double.

Abilene Christian responded by a RBI double to center field by Allyson Blahoff who sent pinch-runner Blakeli Brookreson home to tie the game up at 1-1.

In the top of the sixth inning Tiffany Thompson found her way on base by way of walk and then stole second, Malia then shot a single up the middle moving Thompson to third base. A batter later, Crosby shot a game-winning two-RBI single into right field scoring pinch-runner Kayte Martinez and Thompson.

GAME 2 – Box ScoreAbilene Christian 8, Sam Houston 6Sam Houston could not complete the late rally as ACU splits the doubleheader today to force a rubber match tomorrow at noon.

Bearkat starting pitcher Annie Bailey (6-4) pitched 4.0 innings, allowing six runs on nine hits and walking none before handing the ball off to Darby Fitzpatrick where she worked for 2.0 innings allowing two runs on three hits.

Abilene Christian took an early 4-0 lead through the first two innings, but the Kats would respond with a three-run third inning to cut the lead to one. Carpenter singled to lead the Kats off, followed up by a Megan McDonald double. That set up a Thompson RBI single through the left side to score Carpenter. A stolen base by Thompson forced an errand throw to put another run home and a Wildcat error to score another.

The Wildcats would add four more runs through three innings, not allowing the Bearkats to score a run until the seventh inning to make it 8-3.

In the seventh inning, the Kats tried to spark a late rally as Thompson blasted a two-out triple to keep the Kats alive. Malia would send her home by way of double into right center before White fired a two-run homerun to cut the lead to 8-6, but a ground out ended it for the Bearkats.